At intervals along the line of the old entrenchments from east to west are the barracks occupied by the Egyptian Army which are named after Ismail, Tewfik, and Abbas Pashas. Outside these lines are villages of mud-built and grass-roofed houses of various Sudanese tribes, whose members are employed mostly in building and in other pursuits. (_Vide_ also Chap. V.) Higher up the Blue Nile at Buri are the Gordon College and British barracks. [Sidenote: Town, etc.] The town is symmetrically laid out with wide avenues planted with shady trees, and the class of buildings erected must be in strict conformity with the standard fixed for each particular quarter. The public gardens and “Zoo” are situated at the west end of the town; these, especially the latter, have only as yet reached an embryo stage. [Sidenote: Garrison.] The normal garrison of Khartoum consists of one battalion of British Infantry, relieved annually in October, and three battalions of Infantry of the Egyptian Army, as well as Cavalry and Artillery. (_Vide_ p. 3.) [Sidenote: Market.] The market at Khartoum is poor and more expensive than that at Omdurman, which is much larger and better. Meat is usually PT.3 per oke (2¾ lbs.) and dura varies from PT.25 to PT.90 per ardeb (300 lbs.) according to the season and the year. Building and fire-wood have to be brought long distances from up the Blue and White Niles, and are consequently both expensive. Labour is scarce and difficult to obtain owing to the many buildings, etc., at present under construction. [Sidenote: Rainfall.] The rainfall is very variable but that of an average year is very slight;[30] rain seldom falls on more than 10 to 15 days in the year, but when it does it is generally in heavy thunderstorms, which occur at intervals from June to October, and are usually preceded by duststorms, very similar to those at Kassala. In some years heavy storms occur as early as May. [Sidenote: Climate.] The climate is comparatively good all the year round, though in August, September, and October, and occasionally at other seasons, a certain amount of fever is prevalent.[31] Khartoum is 1,253 feet above the Mediterranean. The hottest month, according to the monthly average maximum temperatures recorded for 1901, is April (110·66° Fahr.), and the coolest January (88·34° Fahr.). April, May and June are here, as elsewhere, as a rule, throughout the Sudan, usually the three hottest months of the year. _Vide_ also p. 12. The highest temperature recorded in 1901 was in July (116·6° Fahr.), and the lowest (51·8°) in December. The wind blows from the north almost continuously from November to April, after which it varies considerably, and finally settles down in May or June to blow pretty consistently from the south until the end of October or beginning of November. [Sidenote: Posts and telegraphs.]